What jobs will disappear by 2040?

20 Jobs That Could Disappear Forever Locomotive firers. Respiratory therapy technicians. Parking enforcement workers. Word processors and typists. Watch repairers. Motor vehicle electronic equipment installers and repairers. Telephone operators.

aarp.org - The 20 Jobs That Could Disappear Forever - AARP

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the nation's workforce, with unprecedented levels of unemployment leaving millions of people without a job in the middle of a public health crisis. When — and if — those jobs will return is the question on everyone's mind. And for some fields that already were shrinking before the recession, the prospects look even worse now. During the week that ended Aug. 15, more than 1.1 million people filed a new claim for unemployment. In July, the unemployment rate for workers age 55 and older was 8.8 percent and the overall unemployment rate was 10.2 percent. Many of the jobs lost this spring and summer resulted from the mandatory temporary shutdowns of restaurants, theaters, stores, gyms and other businesses deemed nonessential. It's difficult to know if those jobs will return because much will depend on communities successfully containing the spread of the coronavirus. But the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently analyzed their data to determine which jobs are projected to face big job losses over the next eight years. The following fields are expected to face double-digit job losses, suggesting that some of them could disappear in the not-too-distant future (some figures have been rounded):

1. Locomotive firers

2018 workers: 500

2028 projection: 200

Projected drop (2018-2028): 68.3 percent

Average annual pay: $63,750

Not many people are working in these jobs to begin with, so each lost job has a big impact. Locomotive firers are responsible for monitoring train signals and tracks to ensure that the train is traveling safely. But improved technology has reduced the need for a person to perform this duty.

2. Respiratory therapy technicians

2018 workers: 9,300

2028 projection: 3,900

Projected drop (2018-2028): 57.5 percent

Average annual pay: $50,900

The work these technicians do — monitoring and using ventilators and other oxygen devices to help with the treatments of patients in emergency rooms and intensive care units, among other places — has been essential and heroic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the number of jobs with this title is expected to shrink. Some of these technicians likely will move up into roles as respiratory therapists, a position that offers higher pay and is projected to grow by 21 percent by 2028.

3. Parking enforcement workers

2018 workers: 8,600

2028 projection: 5,400

Projected drop (2018-2028): 36.7 percent

Average annual pay: $40,920

If you've ever been given a parking ticket, you might think these workers are lurking around every corner. But according to BLS projections, the number of these workers on the streets will drop by more than a third over the next eight years.

4. Word processors and typists

2018 workers: 60,400

2028 projection: 40,000

Projected drop (2018-2028): 33.8 percent

Average annual pay: $40,340

These workers fill a number of clerical duties around the office, such as typing reports and letters, and filing and storing digital documents. These tasks will still need to be done in some form, but the occupation itself is disappearing as other employees pick up these responsibilities.

5. Watch repairers

2018 workers: 3,000

2028 projection: 2,100

Projected drop (2018-2028): 29.6 percent

Average annual pay: $42,520

The soaring market in timepieces today is smartwatches you can use to make phone calls, read text messages and run dozens of digital apps. Sales of these devices could grow to $96 billion over the next seven years. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the watch repairers who specialize in fixing the more traditional mechanical timepieces will get to be a part of that boom.